God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 1:18
18He said, “Teach this kesheth to the people of Judah.” (It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.)
2 Samuel 1:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
- New International Version (NIV)and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):
- English Standard Version (ESV)and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:
- New King James Version (NKJV)and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
Context of 2 Samuel 1:18
16while David said, “You are responsible for spilling your own blood. You testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed king.’ ” 17David wrote this song of mourning for Saul and his son Jonathan. He said, “Teach this kesheth to the people of Judah.” (It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.) 19“Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills. See how the mighty have fallen! 20Don’t tell the news in Gath. Don’t announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, and the daughters of godless men will celebrate.
Read all of 2 Samuel 12 Samuel 1:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁת הִנֵּ֥ה כְתוּבָ֖ה עַל־סֵ֥פֶר הַיָּשָֽׁר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Also he badeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- them teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- the bowקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
- writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
- in the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
- of Jasherיָשָׁרyâshâr · JasharH3477
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 1:18
- Genesis 49:8“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down to you.
- Deuteronomy 4:10Never forget the day you stood in front of the Lord your God at Mount Horeb. The Lord had said to me, “Assemble the people in front of me, and I will let them hear my words. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live on earth, and they will teach their children the same thing.”
- 1 Samuel 20:36“Run,” he told the boy, “please find the arrows I shoot.” The boy ran, and Jonathan shot the arrow over him.
- Joshua 10:13The sun stood still, and the moon stopped until a nation got revenge on its enemies. Isn’t this recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and for nearly a day the sun was in no hurry to set.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The use of the bow - The use of is not in the Hebrew; it is simply the bow, that is, a song thus entitled. See the observations at the end, 2 Samuel 1:21; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18The use of the bow - Omit “the use of.” “The bow” is the name by which this dirge was known, being so called from the mention of Jonathan‘s bow in 2 Samuel 1:22. The sense would then be: And he commanded them to teach the children of Israel the song called Kasheth (the bow), i. e. he gave directions that the song should be learned by heart (compare Deuteronomy 31:19). It has been further suggested that in the Book of Jasher there was, among other things…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 Kasheth, or "the bow," probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The Book of Jashar is an extrabiblical text (not included in the Bible) and is no longer available. It was probably an Israelite epic poem or a collection of poems. These poems likely described important events in Israel’s history, including Joshua’s conquest of Canaan (see Joshua 10:13) and the rise of David as king.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. David lamented with this lamentation--It has always been customary for Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds in funeral songs. This inimitable pathetic elegy is supposed by many writers to have become a national war song, and to have been taught to the young Israelites under the name of "The Bow," in conformity with the practice of Hebrew and many classical writers in giving titles to their…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 1:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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